Wire-stretcher.



No. 836,125. PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906 Y L. MOORE.

WIRE STRETOHER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

LINCOLN MOORE, OF NUMA, IOWA.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed June 21, 1906. Serial No. 322,707.

T0 or whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LINCOLN MooRn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Numa, in the county of Appanoose and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchrs; and the object of the invention is the provision of means for facilitating the stretching of wire.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for facilitating the stretching of wire mesh past a post.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the resent invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device looking at the opposite side thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the chain-hook. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of one of the beams, showing the pronged end thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a substantially V-sha ed frame. The frame 1 comprises an upper earn 2 and a lower beam 3. A vertical brace-rod 4 connects the beams 2 and 3 near their inner ends, while their outer ends are connected by bifurcated plates 6 and 7. A brace-strap 8 connects the beams 2 and 3 near their outer ends, said strap being secured to said beams by any suitable fastening meansas, for instance, bolts 9 9.

Each of the bifurcated plates 6 and 7 is curved intermediate its ends and forms a substantially -shaped member, which member is provided at its outer end with a large aperture, and each bifurcated portion 10 10 of said bifurcated members is provided with preferably a plurality of apertures, which apertures register with similar apertures formed in the beams of the substantially V- shaped frame.

Any suitable fastening means-as, for instance, bolts or rivets 11 ,11are positioned within the registering-aperture of bifurcated plates 6 and 7 and beams 2 and 3 for securing said plates and beams together. Each of the plates 6 and 7 is provided with inwardlyeXtending lugs 6 The upper lug of each plate lies flat against the upper horizontal surface of beam 2, while the lower lug lies flat against the lower horizontal surface of beam 3. These lugs constitute bracing means which materially assist in retaining the plates in an immovable position upon the beams.

A spindle 12 is journaled in the large-outer apertured ends of plates 6 and 7 and is secured therein at one end by means of a spring 13. The ratchet 14 is fixedly secured to the spindle 12, near the opposite end. A lever 15 is loosely mounted upon the end of spindle 12, carrying the ratchet 14. The lever 15 is provided with a bifurcated lower end. The sides of the bifurcated portions are positioned upon opposite sides of the ratchet 14. Therefore the ratchet 14 is straddled by portion of the lever 15. A pawl 16 is pivotally mounted upon the lever 15 at 17. The pawl 16 is bifurcated at its upper end, and each bifurcated portion of said pawl is bent at its outer end into a loop. A pin 17 is positioned within the looped ends of pawl 16, and as said pin is carried by lever 15, said pawl is secured upon the lever 15. The pawl 16 is normally in engagement with the ratchet 14. A dog 18 is pivotally mounted upon the plate 6 and normally en ages the ratchet 14. A washer 18 is loose y mounted upon spindle 12 between ratchet 14 and the outer side of the bifurcated portion of lever 15. When the lever is forced forward in the direction of the arrow, Fig.1, ratchet 14 will be revolved, and consequently similar movement will be imparted to drum 19, which drum is carried by spindle 12. When the lever 15 is moved backward, pawl 16 will ride freely over ratchet 14. Dog 18 will prevent ratchet 14 from unwinding. It will be obvious that by reason of the structure of lever 15, pawl 16, and dog 18 the drum can be readily revolved for winding up the hauling-cable or strand 20. Said cable 20 is secured at one end to drum 19, and its opposite end is preferably provided with suitable attaching meansas, for instance, a hook 21. The drum 19 is preferably formed by attaching a pair of spaced disks 19 to spindle 12.

If it is desired to stretch a strand of wireas, for instance, barb-wire the clamping means for engaging and connecting cable 20 to said wire may be hooked or attached at 21 to cable 20. However, in the present instance I have preferably used a peculiar device, which comprises a vertical beam 22 and a pair of flexible members 23. One end of each ,of said members 23 is attached to the vertical beam 22, and the opposite end of the member is preferably attached to a ring 24. In the present instance the hook 21 engages the ring 24. In stretching wire-mesh engaging means is carried by the vertical beam 22 as, for instance, a plurality of hooks 25.

"Each inner or freeendof beams 2 and 3 is provided with apair of substantially shaped prongs 26, Fig. 5. Each prong 26 comprises an inner and an outer straight body 27 and 28, respectively. These body portions 27 and 28 are integrally connected by. an intermediate straight portion 29. An aperture is formed in the outer end of one of the prongs 26, and a chain or flexible mem ber 30 is secured to the apertured portion of said prong. In the present instance I have illustrated a chain, which chain is connected to the aperture-prong by a lapped link or ring, 31. The prongsare connected to the beams by transverse attaching meansas, for instance, bolts 32.

'When it is desired to stretch the wire, the pronged end of the frame 1 is placed against any suitable supportas, for instance, post 33 Fig. land the chain or flexible member 30 is partly wrapped around the post 33 and positioned between the bifurcated end 34 of the chain-lug 35, Fig. 4. The chain-lug 35 comprises a horizontal apertured base and an integral vertical bifurcated extension. When the chain is drawn taut and the outer end is positioned within the bifurcated'portion of thechain-lug 35, the inner end of the "frame will;be securely held against the post 33.

his desirable to support the outer end of the frame, and for this reason I have employed a supporting-rod 36, which rod is preferably securely attached to beams 2 and 3 by any suitable attaching meansas, for instance, staples 37 37. The upper end of the supporting-rod 36 is provided with a grip 38, which grip is preferably formed by a loop.

en it is desired to stretch wire with the device, it is only necessary to place the pronged ends of the beams against the post and wrap the chain 30 around said post, as hereinbefore stated, and after attaching the cable 20 to the wire by revolving the drum 19 said cable may be wound thereon, and if the wire is of suflicient length it will be obvious that the same can be drawn past the support ing-post 33 several feet, allowing the operator to tack or otherwise secure the wire to the post. v

My device is peculiarly adapted for the purpose of securing the wire to a corner-post after all of the intermediate posts of a line have been passed, for it will be apparent that the peculiar structure of my frame permits the gripping means by which cable 20 is attached to the wire to be drawn near to the winding-drum 19, which drum is placed, preferably, a number of feet away from the post constituting the support for one end of the device.

The'supporting-rod 36 will prevent the outer end of the device from touching the ground, and when the cable 20 is taut the device will be securely held in position, as the ratchet and dog will prevent the drum from unwinding, thereby bringing the pull .of the entire stretch of wire against the supporting-post 33, which pull secures the pronged ends of the beams the post.

What I claim is a 1. In a wire-stretcher, the combination, of

a frame, said frame comprising a pair of beams spaced apart at varying distances throughout their length, transverse bracing means connecting said beams intermediate their ends, prongs secured to one end of said frame, each prong comprising a pair of straight portions integrally connected by an intermediate portion, a flexible member secured to one of said prongs, a lug provided with a vertical bifurcated portion, secured to one ofsaid beams and adapted to be engaged by said flexible member, and strand-receiving means carried by said frame.

2. In a wire-stretcher, the combination, of

' a substantially V-shaped frame, a supportingrod engaging said frame intermediate its ends,

strand-receiving means carried bysaid frame, and said frame provided with a pronged or bifurcated structure at one end.

3. In a wire stretcher, thecombination, of beams, bifurcated plates secured to and connecting said beams at one end, strandereceiving means j ournaled upon said bifurcated plates, and a cable secured to said strand-rece1v1ng means.

4. In a wire-stretcher, the combination, of a substantially V-shaped frame, said frame comprising beams, a plurality of transverse bracing members secured to said beams intermediate their ends, a pair of substantially -shaped plates connecting one end of said beams, a spindle journaled in said plates, a drum secured to said spindle, means-for looking said spindle against rotary movement, a cable secured to said drum, wire engaging and attaching means secured to said cable, a pair of prongs secured to each of said beams, a flexible member secured to one of said prongs, and means for securing said flexible member in a taut condition upon said beam.

5. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of beams, plates, each plate provided with a pair of side lugs, fastening means securing said plates to said beams, each lug of each plate engaging one .of said beams, and strandreceiving means carried by said beams.

6. In a wire-stretcher, the combination with a frame, of prongs secured to said frame,

securely against said prongs constituting a socket, a flexible I each beam at its outer free end, whereby a member in engagement with one of said i socket or post-surrounding means is formed 2 5 prongs, a lug carried by said frame, said lug upon each beam. adapted to be engaged by said flexible mem- 9. In a wire-stretcher, the combination 5 ber for securing said frame in engagement withaframe,of -shaped prongs carriedby with a support, and strand-receiving means l said frame, -shaped plates carried by said carried by said frame. frame, and cable-receiving means carried by 30 7. In a wire-stretcher, the combination said plates. with a frame, of a flexible member carried by 10. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of [0 said frame, a lug provided with a horizontal beams positioned together at one end and left and avertical portion, carri dby said frame, free at the opposite end, producing a V- said vertical portion provided with a notch, shaped frame, strand-receiving means carried 3 5 the flexible member adapted to be fitted into by the closed end of said frame, prongs posithe notched portion of said lug, and strandtioned upon opposite sides of each beam at its I 5 receiving means carried by said frame. outer end, and supporting means in engage- 8. In a wire-stretcher, the combination of ment with said beams between said prongs a pair of beams positioned apart at varying and strand-receiving means. o

distances throughout their lengths, bifur- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my cated plates positioned upon opposite sides of signature in presence of two witnesses.

20 said beams and secured at one of their ends, LINCOLN MOORE.

the opposite ends of said beams being left free, Witnesses cable-receiving means positioned between HENRY HEFNER, said plates, and a pair of prongs secured to B. F. BAYLES. 

